Matic



Dec. 13, 1932.

M. A. [POWERS IGNITER Filed Oct. 7. 1929 INVENTOR M52 tan )1 fawa'rs avW y mmww ATTORN EYS madame; 13; 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca MILTONALPOWERSQOF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIMKEN SILENT AUTO- MATICCOMPANY; OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN IGNITER'Application filed October 7, 1928. Serial No. 398,037.

The invention relates to electrical igniters more particularly designedfor use in connection with oil burners for automatically igniting thefuel whenever discharged from the burner. It is the object of theinvention to obtain a construction which will be operative under varyingconditions and pa rticularly where there are fluctuations in the voltageof the electrical current used.

In the present state of the art electrical igniters have been used inconnection with oil burners which are provided first with an electricalheating means'for raising the temperature of the oil and second with anigniting means for the oil or its vapor. For the first of these means itis usual to employ a resistor through which an electrical current ofnormal commercial voltage is passed, the resistance of the resistorbeing so determined as to produce the desired heating effect atthestandard voltage. The second device requires a much higher voltage inthat it is necessary to have a jump spark. -An objection to suchconstructions is that the circuit of the two voltages may interfere witheach other if too closely associated and if separated the oil va- 1porized by the resistor may not traverse the path of the spark.

To overcome the objection just described I have devised a constructionof igniter which also has a heat resistor and a jump spark, but withoutsuch great difference in electrical potential. As the high potential isrequired for the ump spark, I have substituted for the low resistanceresistor a. resistor having a relatively high resistance and in place ofpass ing a low tension current through the resistor I use a current ofrelatively high voltage. Thus while the heating efiect produced by myhigh resistance resistor is not materially different from that of a lowresistance resistor, the difficulties due to interaction of high and lowvoltage circuits has been overcome.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing which shows in perspective a portion of the refrac tory ring ofan oil burning furnace against which the oil spray is directed and inconplaced. This drawing also represents diagrammatically the electricalClIClllt and a transformer used in connection therewith.

Q As shown, A is the refractory ring preferably provided with a grooveor trough in which the oil from the spray may collect and which extendscompletely around the ring. B is the heating resistor which may beeither embedded in the ring A or placed outside trodes C are embedded inthe body of the re:

sistor B being suitably spaced from each other to obtain the desiredelectrical resistance in the intermediate body.

The jump spark igniter is arranged in connection with the resistor B andcomprises a metallic electrode E passing through insulator tubes F andextending in proximity with the resistor B at the point of location ofone of the electrodes such as C. The insulator tubes D and F are mountedin any suitable manner. upon the ring A as by passing through aperturedlugs G formed on said ring.

For furnishing current of suitable voltage both to the resistor and tothe jump spark, a transformer is necessary and preferably a singletransformer is used for both currents. Thus as diagrammatically shown, His the primary coil of the transformer receiving current of a normalvoltage such for instance as 110. I represents the magnetic core and Jand J the secondary coils which furnish current at the voltages desiredfor the two cir* cuits. The coil J delivers the lower voltage .such forinstance as a difference in potential and the terminal E such as toallow a current mary, current will pass through both secondary circuits.The current traversing the resistor'B will raise its temperature to apoint where the oil spray impinging thereon will be heated and vaporizedwhile the current which jumps the spark gap Will ignite the vapor. It isevident that the jump spark in traversing its gap passes through a zoneof rich vapor produced by the heating elements and in addition entersthe surface of the resistor upon which the oil spray from the burnerimpinges. The importance of this" direct application of the spark to thespray is very great and results in practical and reliable ignition underconditions where systems of a somewhat similar nature often fail. Theigniter is so located in relation to the refractory ring A that theflame will be propagated by the oil in the groove or trough A and inthat manner will ignite the entire supply dis-- charged from the burner.I

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electrical igniter for liquid fuel burners comprising a highresistance refractory resistor on which liquid fuel is de osited,terminals embedded therein, an e ectrode spaced from said resistor andmeans for supplying high tension current to both traverse the resistorand to forma jump spark between the same and said electrode.

2. An electrical igniter for liquid fuel burners comprising a highresistance refractory resistor on which liquid fuel is deposited,terminals embedded therein and'an electrode spaced from said resistoradjacent to one of the embedded terminals and means for supplying hightension current to traverse the resistor and to form a jump spark, theembedded erminal adjacent to said electrode forming a common terminalfor both circuits.

3. An electrical igniter for liquid fuel burners comprising a highresistance refrac tory resistor on winch liquid fuel is de osited,terminals embedded therein, an e ectrcde spaced from said resistoradjacent to one of the embedded terminals, a transformer having twosecondary coils having a common terminal connected to said embeddedterminal adjacent the said electrode, the other ter-' minals of saidsecondary coils being connected respectively to said electrode and tothe other embedded terminal whereby high tension current is suppliedboth to the spark cap and for traversing the resistor.

4. In an electrical igniter for liquid fuel the flame will be propagateby the fuel in said trough. V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MILTON A. POWERS.

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